Page 85 of Never Fall Again

Cal understood. “She wants to stay with her mom and dad. The last month has been hard, and Aunt J has a full month of chemo to go, but she’s been insisting that she doesn’t, and I quote, ‘need a live-in nanny.’”

“Well, she’s about to get one whether she wants one or not. Meredith said she has no qualms whatsoever about using this situation to guilt her mother into letting her stay—and to get Landry to agree to stay in her house.”

Cal moved over to let another gowned and masked person walk by. “Let that be a lesson to you. Everyone thinks Meredith’s an angel, but she has a manipulative streak.”

Gray held out his gloved hands. “As long as she uses her powers for good, I don’t care.”

“Famous last words.”

Landry stood in her bedroom and stared out the window. She hadn’t cried since her breakdown with Bronwyn last night. She didn’t cry when she talked about her kilns. Or the time it would take to put everything together. She didn’t cry when she did the math and realized she wouldn’t be able to build a house after all. She didn’t even cry when the police told her they’d found a bomb in her studio. She’d almost taken her daughter into that building. A building that could have exploded and killed her.

She wasn’t sad anymore. She was furious.

A light tap on the door didn’t encourage her to move. She didn’t care who it was. She managed a weak “Come in” but didn’t turn around to see.

The door opened, the door closed, and the person standing behind her didn’t approach for ten seconds. Then, he spoke. “Landry.” That’s all he said, but at her name, the dam broke.

She whirled to face him. “What did I ever do to deserve this? I don’t bother anyone. I don’t ask for much. I want my daughter to grow up in a safe place. I want her to grow up knowing she’s loved. I want her to grow up knowing how precious she is.”

She threw a hand at the window. “But you know what I didn’t want? I didn’t want my daughter’s first sleepover with a friend to be because some lunatic destroyed her mother’s studio and now it isn’t safe for her to sleep in her own bed!”

Cal nodded.

“I didn’t even pack her pajamas! She went to her first sleepover with no toothbrush or pillow or clean underwear! What kind of a mother am I? Is this what she’ll remember when she’s grown up? That her mom’s life was such a train wreck that she frequently messed up the important things?”

Cal took two steps toward her. Then stopped and held out his arms. “Landry?”

“What?” The question was a whip of anger and frustration and terror.

“Come here.”

His words were a plea. His arms were an invitation. And she didn’t have the strength to tell him no. She might never have the strength again, and right now, she didn’t care. She walked into his embrace and rested her head against his chest. Her arms went around his waist, and his wrapped around her back.

“You’re an amazing mother. Eliza is living proof. I already received a text this morning. Everyone’s staying home from church. Naomi made a big deal out of the fact that there was no point in putting on clean clothes when the girls were going to get covered in dirt anyway, and she sent them outside to rake leaves. We’ll pack Eliza a bag, and Carla has volunteered to come get it. By the time the girls are done playing outside and ready for hot chocolate and a movie, there will be clean clothes, a toothbrush, and whatever else she needs.”

“It shouldn’t have been this way.” Landry’s words were muffled by Cal’s shirt.

“I agree.”

“I want it to stop.”

“Me too.” Cal’s head rested on hers. “But I’m not going anywhere, Landry. Unless you send me away, I’ll be here. We’ll get through this. Gray’s got his best people on it. Mo’s been doing some digging, and trust me, when Mo starts digging, he doesn’t stop until he finds something.”

“I’m not sure if that’s a positive trait or a negative one.”

“We aren’t either. His code name was Badger. Badgers are the world’s fastest diggers. They can even dig through asphalt.”

“Well, thank you, Nat Geo.” She wanted to bite her tongue. This wasn’t the time for sarcasm.

But Cal clearly thought it was funny. His laughter was contagious, and she leaned back enough so she could see his face. She didn’t move her arms, and he didn’t release her.

“Ready to pack Eliza’s bag?”

“In a minute. What did you come in here for? Because it wasn’t to tell me about Mo being a badger.”

“No. I came in to talk to you about something else. But it can wait. Why don’t you pack for Eliza first? That way it’s done. Naomi and Chad didn’t want to leave the house. Carla had to take something to the church for her Sunday school class. Once she drops it off, she’s going to swing by.” Cal glanced at his watch. “I’d say we have maybe twenty minutes.”

“What will your family think about everyone missing church? Did you know I was going to go today? I’d already decided. My issues with church notwithstanding, I want Eliza to go. And maybe your church will change my mind. But no one’s ever going to believe it. Now they’ll think I’m a bad influence.”

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